Review The Kirby Vacuum
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Kirby Avalir Platinum Vacuum Cleaner
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| 5 star | 55% | |
| 4 star | 4% | |
| 3 star | 17% | |
| 2 star | 10% | |
| 1 star | 14% |
1-5 of 29 reviews
Never again. I bought this cause I was told it was low maintenance and tough on messes. It is neither. I constantly have to clean out and cut off hairs from the roller. Every time I use it, I have to clean it out or else it won’t work the next I go to use it. I like to shampoo my carpets every 6 months but had to cut that down or rent a different shampooer cause every I use it it won’t dispense suds or water with out me constantly cleaning things out, refilling water (even though it’s not empty, will only rub with a full tank of water), or readjusting something. No mater how many things I replace, how carefully I read the instructions, or how well I keep the parts cleaned it fails me after a 5×5 area is done. And don’t bother trying to get help from them. Only way to contact them is by phone and it will take hours if you don’t get discontented. And heaven forbid you don’t live near a Kirby repair center, which we don’t. For the amount I paid for this I could have gotten a top of the line vacuum, that I don’t have to deal with bags or cutting hair out of constantly, and a shampooer/rent every time I needed one.
All the attachments are bulky and take at least 10 minutes to install each one. The whole thing is very heavy and does not reach a good 6 inches of the edges unless you take the time to put on the attachment for edges. It cannot fit underneath anything cause it is too tall and I have had to replace multiple parts since buying it in 2019. Honestly the only reason I keep it is out of guilt for how much I paid for it.
If you run a business and you are paid for all this, it is probably a good product cause when it does work, it works great. But for someone with three kids who needs to be able to just pull it out and use it when I get 10 minutes, it sucks and I’m tired of taking up half my day just to vacuum or shampoo one room.
All in all, I will never buy another one and want to grab my younger nieve by the collar for buying one. I never will recommend any of these vacuums to personal use for those I know either.
My parents owned a Kirby, and as a teen, I used it frequently. That was around the seventies, and my dad still has it, and it works perfectly. Throughout my life I’ve bought, and used, way too many vacuum cleaners, of which most have been from “D”. The problem was, they just never did the job, in one way or another, or they just broke (disposable). In most cases, I got collections of vacuum models, as one worked better in one situation, and another in other situations. In 2025 I moved into a new house, and with that, decided to get serious about my vacuum cleaner. Having moved with the collection I have, I realized that having multiple vacuums to do one job, vacuuming, not only was wasteful, but seriously a waste of storage space. Downsizing moving makes you concerned about these things. Not only was I surprised when I found Kirby still in business, but all the models they have had over the years. I came to realize, that over the years, I’ve been comparing that old 70’s Kirby my dad has to ALL the vacuums I’ve owned over those years, and they NEVER lived up to the quality and build of that Kirby.
So, as a non-educated vacuum purchaser, I did the first thing in many years of bad purchases, I scheduled an in-home demo (Yes! They still do this! Back in the day, they went door-to-door). We compared the new Kirby against my “collection” of other vacuums, and they never came close. The demonstration was well done, and I had a list of things the others just never did well, even to go as far as say barely. I was pretty much already sold on the Kirby Avalir Platinum before the demo, but the demo really sealed the deal. From what I know, you pretty much only have two Vacuum Companies, still in business, and still making quality units; Kirby is one of them.
Sure, you can buy cheaper vacuum cleaners, and chances are they will never last. I resolved the investment in a Kirby as my LAST vacuum cleaner I will ever need, or want. It will stand in the closet, waiting diligently for when I need it, and it will always be there when it is needed. I wish I had family, cause this vacuum is going to last for many generations.
For those who want to bicker about the Kirby $$$$, I came to a simple theory, when I add up the cost of my vacuum “collection” over the years, it comes to more than twice the cost of a Kirby, and none of them will ever last, or had lasted, as long as the Kirby. Consider this, Kirby is to Vacuums, as that mixer Company is to mixers. Only difference is, the mixer Company finally went to plastic parts, and no longer lasts as long as the older models. Kirby is what someone who does cleaning for a living uses, and depends on every day.
My final word is, if you just want a vacuum, buy the disposable, cheaper, plastic vacuum, on the other hand, if you are like me, you want a vacuum that is dependable, reliable, and you want to “invest” in a vacuum that will stand the test of time, buy the Kirby.
We bought our first Kirby in 2015 from a Salesman in Hawaii.. We owned it for 10 years and this year the aluminum body frame that attaches the wheel broke off. Can’t repair it properly since it’s cast aluminum, the motor is still going strong, no issues even without being serviced. This year we decided to just get the newest model and hopefully it lasts us another 10 years. Say what you will about the price, noise, etc. but no vacuum in the market will last you 10 years and retain the same suction power and efficiency much like a Kirby. There’s a reason they haven’t changed their design much in the past 10 years, because when you have something that works; you don’t change it.
My Kirby Heritage 84 is still performing like new, except for the shampooer. I don’t have carpets, so that doesn’t matter. I have performed any repairs/maintenance it needed. I wouldn’t have any other vacuum.
Been using My Kirby upright Avetir for about a year. When using the Kirby as an upright, I’ve been impressed with its quality. However, in our small house, it wont reach into tight corners. Transitioning it to hose and nozzle configuration is relatively easy. However, the unit isn’t configured very well for this type of use. The vacuum unit catches on corners often. The location of the switch is difficult to access in this configuration as well. The vacuum itself is excellent quality but the hose and nozzle accessories are of much less quality compared to previous vacuums we’ve owned.